The strategies that require minimal resources, eco-friendly and readily available to a researcher are necessary for implementation of pervasive sensors. In this regard, a solvent-free frictional deposition of polymer is utilized to develop a chemiresistive ammonia gas sensor. The sensor was exposed to ammonia gas in the range of 200 ppb to 3.15 ppm concentration. The sensitivity of the sensor was found to be 20.5% ppm−1. The high sensitivity of ammonia sensor can be attributed to the rough surface of the film deposited on the paper. Being an eco-friendly and inexpensive approach, it can be used in the fabrication of maintenance-free disposable conducting polymer-gas sensors. © 2019 Elsevier B.V.